The cost of not asking
An unqualified site visit costs travel, a slot in the schedule, and the estimate writing that follows. Doing several a week is a meaningful drag on capacity.
The customer also loses: they waited, took time off, and ended up with a quote for work you were never going to do.
Questions that do not offend
- What are you hoping to have done, and by when?
- Have you had other work like this done before?
- Is there a budget range you are working within?
- Who else is involved in the decision?
Saying no well
Declining early, with a reason and ideally a referral, is remembered positively. People rarely resent a straight answer; they resent being strung along.
Those conversations also generate referrals more often than you would expect.